Covering?

[mikezell]

Has anyone tried a film covering ( monokote econocote ) on they're cub?

If the foam doesn't melt on application it would probably add a bit of strength.

[swampfox201]

mikezell said:

Has anyone tried a film covering ( monokote econocote ) on they're cub?

If the foam doesn't melt on application it would probably add a bit of strength.

Welcome to the forum!!

I've never heard of it. Maybe someone else has used it. Do you have a link that shows how it's used?


Todd

[mikezell]

Here's a link:
www.monokote.com/monoinst1.html

They claim EconoKote can be used on foam
www.monokote.com/econokote.html

Here's the product flier:
www.top-flite.com/sellsheets/topq2601-sell-sheet.pdf

[60buick]

I highly recommend Econocote. Covering the plane makes it look like a plane instead of a beer cooler. You can then paint over the covering if you like. I highly,HIGHLY recomend it. Use Econocote ONLY because it is very light weight and a low temperature covering. Monocote requires to much heat you will warp the foam. It does add a good bit of strenth and makes the plane very durable and a lot stronger.

Please excuse the horrible picture quality. This is the yellow one. It was covered in white Econocote and then I used yellow Krylon fussion for plastics which was a perfect match for cub yellow (believe it or not).




Here is my Orange one. I used Orange Econocoat and then found a good paint match for all the plastic parts.




Look how much cleaner the bottom of the plane looks!







There are some things that you need to know. First take your time! Second you will need to remove the wing struts (leave the strut mounts) the cowl, all the decals (save the window decals). You can paint the tail surfaces, do not cover them. Scuff any plastic parts so the paint will stick. Good luck and see how many people ask you what it is, because it looks nothing like what you get in the box.

[swampfox201]

60Buick looks very nice. Do you have any idea how much weight that adds to the airplane?

[60buick]

The orange one has almost no weight difference since I used orange covering. The yellow one has a very slight weight gain but it is from the paint. The paint weights 10X's what the covering does. So I would cover it in color and try to find the closest paint match you can for the cowl and struts if weight worrys you. But it will fly the same either way. This thing will carry twice what it weighs stock. My advice is not to worry about the weight and have some fun playing with covering.


Here are some pictures I just took so you can get a better idea of how it looks. BTW everyone at the hobbyshop that comes in and sees it asks me what kit I used and there is a Super cub hanging right next to the counter. It looks that much different, but in a good way.


This is the Yellow one.


yellow one.


This is my orange one now. She carrys 2 8 cell packs wired to give 9.6 volts at 2000mAh, floats and full nav and landing lights.


Orange one


This is her floating in my swimming pool


Landing lights in the left wing


Nav light on the left wing and if you look close you can see the collision light on the rudder. Thet was not an easy feat, I had to drill a hole through the rudder for wires with out coming out the side.

[swampfox201]

60buick,

That is awesome!!! I love the lights. Much better than my setup supercubclub.proboards78.com/index.cgi?board=tt&action=display&thread=1170910881

Are your lights LEDS? Have you tried flying it at night? I was going to put my flashing red position light on the tail also but I didn't like the way the wires looked running up the rudder. I'm not sure I could drill a hole that long and not go through the side fo the rudder. Also I figured I would crash it and break the rudder and have to redo it.

Nice job. Love the coverings also.



Todd

[eastcoast78]

i just covered my cub with clear packing tape after i painted the plane,and was wondering how much of a weight diff there is now ,has anyone done it with tape and got a weight of the plane and is tape just as durable as the Econocote?

[eastcoast78]

this is a teast see if i can get a pic on this pagehttp://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g127/eastcoast78/DSC03151.jpg

[eastcoast78]

this a test to see if i can get a pic in this mesage box

[eastcoast78]

yes!!!!! it works ha ha lol

[eastcoast78]

if your applying tape too your plane, make sure you have it nice and lined up because once its down and you think its not right if you try too peal it back you are going to take the paint off the fuse.what i did was started at the botton, running the tape lenth ways of the plane,(you counld wrap it around but i thought this wound leave to many seam's where the fuse could break ,so i started at the bottom front of the fuse and took of the lenth of tape i needed and gently stuck it too the edge of the motor housing and laided it on the plane ,then i ran my finger down th center of the tape and then push it out from the middle to edges this helped with keeping creases and air pockets from forming.
so i contined all around the fuse ,useing a good razer blade here is a must it helps when getting in to tight areas like around the tail just make a little slice in the tape and push in to the areas.

i wish i could of taking pic of a "how too" but your hand are full when doing thid mod .
i hope this helps

i55.photobucket.com/albums/g127/eastcoast78/super%20cub/DSC03180.jpg[/img]

[60buick]

I have done some night flying. Both tonight and last night. Last night was the first time I have ever attempted it. I have about a dozen night flights under my belt with 6 of those being in pitch black night. The hardest thing is landing because you can't see the ground but keeping oriantation is not easy. I added a strobe to the belly so I know if I am looking at the belly on top of the plane and the only other lights I am using are the 3 position lights and landing lights in the wing. It is really difficult with the plane because the covering blocks any light from shinning through the foam. All you can see is the LED and it does not illuminate the plane. I just see little red, green and white dots flying around. The good thing is the wind completely dies at night and the plane is very predictable. I trust my brain more than my eyes and my eyes lie to me. I just fly a set pattern so I know what the plane should be doing at all times.

They are LEDs with scale covers on them. It is a kit made by RAM for a micro heli that will run off the stock pack in the plane. Just make sure you don't hook them up backwards or you will burn them up . I had to cut the lights free from the supplied controler and hook them up to 2 AA batteries for power because the LEDs are 3 volts. The LEDs work fine now but the controler is toast. the new strobe light runs off a 9 volt battery so I am running out of cabin space with all the little extras in my plane but it has planty of power for more weight.


PS. don't down your setup looks pretty scale to me. Keep up the good work!

[swampfox201]

60Buick,

Your description of night flying is right on. I too only see little lights flying around. On my setup my landing light led is just ahead of the battery box and points down at a 45degree angle so it does a good job of lighting the ground. My wing position lights are on top but I can see them through the foam from the bottom. I have only flown in pitch black a couple of times but you are right - keeping oriantation is very difficult and it is easy to get confused.


Todd

[dimitrisddd]

Hi guys. I'm extremely interested in covering my SC with EconoKote film. But to be honest I didn't understand how you do it.

Is there any kind of detailed instructions, equipment needed, thinks to be careful etc?

What parts can I cover? Wing + fuselage?

Thanks